fish

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter T

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Take a Seat at the Table: Tilapia Macadamia Fillets! Tired of hum-drum meals? The crispy crunch of tropical nuts on the outside are a prelude to the moist flaky fish inside. Turning that taste into a healthy and delicious dinner option is spot on! The subtle hints of sesame, green seaweed, and Parmesan cheese add to the nutritional value making this a new favorite to try again and again. 
TILAPIA MACADAMIA FILLETS
Ingredients:

2 tilapia fillets, boneless and skinless

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cornmeal 

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/2 cup macadamia nuts, chopped

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon furikake seasoning (sesame seed and green seaweed)

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon milk
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°. Rinse tilapia fillets and pat dry. Mix together all dry ingredients and spread on a sheet of waxed paper. Using a wire whisk, combine egg and milk in a shallow bowl. Dip one fish fillet at a time into the egg bath, coating both sides. Once wet, dredge in bread crumb mixture to fully cover both sides. Set aside and repeat for the second fish fillet. (For a crisper crust, repeat process in egg bath using all coating mix.) Place fish fillets in a nonstick pan and place to oven. Bake 8 minutes, gently turn over and bake 4 minutes longer. Do not over cook. Garnish with cilantro, lemon slice, and whole macadamia nuts. 

Dining Outside the Home: Point Loma Seafoods in San Diego, California 

Dining Outside the Home: Point Loma Seafoods San Diego, California! Quality fish and other creatures of the sea are caught straight from the boat, directly bought from local fishermen, and sold at the market the same day. It doesn’t get any fresher than that. What began as a family business of simply processing and selling sport-caught fish over 50 years ago, turned into a place to gather and nibble on the salt-water delicacies prepared with secret recipes. From flaky crab cakes and shrimp cocktail to breaded clam strips, seared ahi, and smoked salmon on bakery fresh sourdough bread, the selection is overwhelming. What a unique experience for the heartiest eaters. 

Dining Outside the Home: Seaport Village Pier Café in San Diego, California 

Dining Outside the Home: Seaport Village Pier Café in San Diego, California! For a charming waterfront experience with an amazing sunset view, this landmark café on the pier was a natural choice. The quaint New England-style wooden structure harbored a casual, yet romantic atmosphere. The automatic choice for a late-night dinner was the fresh catch of the day: Flaky batter-fried fish fillets and crunchy golden chips. The tangy tartar sauce and malt vinegar satisfied the taste buds. As the sun dipped below the shadowed horizon, we quenched our thirst with the ultimate refreshment, a Grand Marnier margarita. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter O

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Joy of Eating: One Fish, Two Fish! The health benefits of eating tilapia are enough to make you feel like a poet. By choosing a fish that is high in protein and low in calories, why not get creative with a baked and crispy crust? This one has a kick of spice balanced with natural cornmeal and grated cheese. Give it a whirl and pass your comments on to me. I’d love to hear from you. 
ONE FISH, TWO FISH
Ingredients:

2 tilapia fillets, boneless and skinless

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/4 cup panko bread crumbs

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup cornmeal 

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon cracked black pepper 

1/2 cup Jazzy Jerk Sauce*
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 425°. While the oven is preheating, cover the bottom of an iron skillet with the olive oil. Place skillet in oven while you prepare the breading for the tilapia. Mix together all dry ingredients and spread on a sheet of waxed paper. Pour the Jazzy Jerk Sauce* into a shallow bowl. Dip one fish fillet at a time into the sauce, coating both sides. Once wet, dredge in bread crumb mixture to fully cover both sides. Set aside and repeat for the second fish fillet. Using oven mitts, carefully remove iron skillet from oven. Place fish fillets in pan and return to oven. Bake 8 minutes, gently turn over and bake 4 minutes longer. Do not over cook. Serve with a side of cole slaw. 
*Jazzy Jerk Sauce recipe may be found by clicking on the link below. 

https://snapshotsincursive.com/2015/10/15

Experience Alligators in Cocoa, Florida

When my Aunt Gail and Cousin Connie invited us on the Lone Cabbage Fish Camp Airboat Ride, I had no idea what they were talking about. And until you share the sensation of gliding down the river before cutting over hardy reeds, lily pads, and marsh lands, you won’t either. It is the most thrilling exploration of swamps, alligators, and wildlife imaginable. Did you know cattle and steer stand knee-deep in the marsh just to nibble on healthy greens? Or that “gators” flip out on the surface of the waterway only to submerge yards ahead with their eyes peeking over the Everglades? I saw first-hand exotic baby alligators, while merely days-old, mingle camouflaged at water’s edge believing they are completely invisible. I learned the majestic pond cypress tree, with its scale-like trunk, can tolerate wetlands and endure floods making it an ancient species of southern gentility. Seeing a dense grove among floating lily pads is not only impressive, it’s artistic. As the skillfully guided airboat ride ended, I knew I had glimpsed Nature at its best. A delicious lunch sampling of fresh “gator”, frog legs, shrimp, clams, and fish culminated the visit with memories galore, followed by a fond farewell. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Z

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Zesty Fish Tacos. The first time my California friend ordered Fish Tacos, I was like, “Whaaaaaaat??” After all, being a Midwestern girl, fish was caught to be dredged in beer-batter or lemon-peppered, deep fried, and eaten with a side of French fries. Not exactly good for the heart, but tasty. Well, my taste buds have matured over the years and now I tend to cook a little healthier without sacrificing great flavor…..which brings me to the Recipe of the Day.
ZESTY FISH TACOS 
Ingredients:
2 Tilapia fillets

1 egg

2 tablespoons lime juice

2 tablespoons flour

2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal 

2 tablespoons Panko seasoned bread crumbs

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper 

2 tortillas, flour or corn

1 cup shredded broccoli-carrot blend

1/4 cup salsa

1/4 cup Greek yogurt

1 green onion, snipped
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°. Mix egg and lime juice in a shallow dish. On a sheet of waxed paper, use a fork to blend flour, cornmeal, Panko crumbs, salt, pepper, garlic, red pepper flakes, cumin powder. Dip fish fillet in egg mixture to cover. Then coat with crumb topping. (This can be done more than once for an extra crispy crust.) Place breaded fillets on a greased baking dish. Bake for 8 minutes. Flip over bake 4 minutes longer. If you prefer a crispier crust, broil 4 minutes longer. Watch carefully. Fill each tortilla with fish, broccoli-carrot blend, salsa, and Greek yogurt. Garnish with green onion snips.